this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Well, there was the problem back then, that different terminals used different escape sequences, so tput was made as wrapper. Doesn't matter as much anymore, since most (but not all) emulators use the same-isch terminals and interface painting has mostly moved to GUI. But it's still something of a good manners thing.
Basically
Also has the advantage of the variables being empty instead of printing sequences, if the terminal doesn't support colors.